NEW: @TheJusticeDept announces charges vs 2 #China nationals for trying to hack research on #COVID19 vaccine research, hit-tech manufacturing, solar energy, defense, pharmaceuticals and gaming
Hackers-named as Li Xiaoyu & Dong Jiazhi-stole "terrabytes of data" per officials
Per @TheJusticeDept, #China's Li Xiaoyu & Dong Jiazh began hacking efforts in 2014, & that efforts continued until now
In addition to US, the Chinese hackers targeted #Britain #Germany #Belgium #Australia
Indictment "highlights how the Chinese government is willing to turn a blind eye" to criminal activities within its borders, per @TheJusticeDept Assistant Attorney General for Nat'l Security John Demers
#China's behavior "what we expect from an organized criminal syndicate" per @FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich
#China "is also willing to use its intelligence services' cyber capabilities to target dissidents" not in #China, per @FBI's Bowdich
Per @TheJusticeDept, #China hacking effort first detected on @ENERGY Department computers
#China has joined "shameful club of nations who provide a safe haven for cybercriminals" per @TheJusticeDept Asst Atty General for Nat'l Security John Demers - alist he says includes #Russia #NorthKorea
11 count indictment charges 34yo Li Xiaoyu & 33yo Dong Jiazhi "with hacking into the computer systems of hundreds of victim companies, governments, non-governmental organizations, & individual dissidents, clergy, & democratic&human rights activists" per @TheJusticeDept statement
Among the information targeted - emails of a former #TiananmenSquare protester, per officials
#COVID19 vaccine data - "They were looking to obtain it" says @TheJusticeDept's Asst Atty General Demers of the #China hackers
But he says the indictment does not allege they were able to obtain the information they sought
"We're not just indicting them for their criminal activity" per @TheJusticeDept's Demers "We're indicting them for the activity they also did on behalf of the state [#China]"
"It is the 1st time we are presenting charges that present what we call this 'blended threat'"
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